National Parks:
Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali Park, Alaska -- Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. The park was established as Mount McKinley National Park on Feb. 26, 1917. The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. Today, the park hosts more than 300,000 visitors who enjoy wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking.

DID YOU KNOW

• More than 650 species of flowering plants grace the lower elevation slopes and valleys of Denali. The blooming season is brief, as snow can come in any month and winter usually arrives in force by October.
• A number of relatively short trails are available to visitors of all abilities in the park frontcountry. The park's vast backcountry does not have maintained trails, but is generally open to hiking; overnight camping requires a permit.
• A typical year sees more than 1,100 climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mount McKinley, with about half reaching the 20,320-foot summit. The peak was first climbed in 1913.
• The park is open year-round, although most visitors arrive between May and September. Throughout the winter, campsites are open and the park road is left unplowed, making it ideal for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding.

DON'T MISS ATTRACTIONS

• Get on the bus, Gus! Private vehicles can generally drive the first 15 miles of the 90-mile park road throughout the summer without restriction. Beyond Mile 15, most visitors will use one of the park's bus transportation systems. Tour buses include a guide and food service; reservations may be made by calling 1-800-622-7234. Shuttle buses allow visitors to get off the bus and re-board, allowing picnics and day hikes in the park interior. Fees vary depending on the distance traveled. Reservations may be made by calling 1-800-622-7275.
• Sled dogs were a traditional method of travel in Alaska throughout the winter, and are still used by the park to assist with winter projects in the park's wilderness interior. In summer, the historic kennels are open to visitors, and sled dogs make demonstration runs up to three times a day. The kennels are at Mile 3 of the park road, and are served by a free entrance area shuttle bus.
• The south side of Denali is a 2-million acre expanse of wild country lying south of the crest of the Alaska Range. The South District Ranger Station in Talkeetna, about 150 miles south of the park headquarters, is the jumping off place for activities that include wilderness camping, mountaineering and river running.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PRIORITIES

The National Park Service, the Alaska Railroad and Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Venture (the park's concessioner) are working on several facility improvements in the entrance area of the park. A new visitor center, related park and concessioner buildings, and an expanded railroad depot are under construction and expected to open over the next two years. Road and parking improvements in the area were completed earlier this summer.

The park is also working to improve management and use of the backcountry. Currently, the National Park Service is evaluating several thousand public comments on a proposed backcountry management plan, which will update plans from 1976 and 1986. The plans are meant to provide increased public use while protecting park resources. The new backcountry management plan will address popular park activities such as snowmachining, camping, hiking, and flightseeing.

Finally, Denali National Park continues as a premier research location as scientists learn more about the wildlife and habitats of the region. Long-running studies of wolves, grizzly bears, caribou, golden eagles, sheep, and air and water quality are among the topics addressed by researchers.

Source: National Park Service